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Kern County Programs

Kern County is located in the southern Central Valley of the state of California. Established in 1866, it extends east beyond the southern slope of the eastern Sierra Nevada range into the Mojave Desert, and includes parts of the Indian Wells Valley, and the Antelope Valley. From the Sierras the county extends across the floor of the San Joaquin Valley to the eastern edge of the Temblor Range, part of the Coastal Ranges. To the south the county extends over the ridge of the Tehachapi Mountains. According to the 2009 census, its population was 807,407. The county seat is Bakersfield (since 1874) with the original county seat being the former mining town of Havilah in the mountains between Bakersfield and Tehachapi.

The county has a large agricultural base and is a significant producer of oil, natural gas, hydro-electric power, wind turbine power, and geothermal power. As of 2009^[update], Kern remains California's top oil-producing county, with 81% of the state's 52,144 active oil wells.^[2] The county accounts for one-tenth of overall U.S. oil production, and three of the five largest U.S. oil fields are in Kern County. Kern is also noted for its mineral wealth, including gold, borate, and kernite. The largest open pit mine in California, which mines borax, is at Boron in Kern County.^[3]

Cooperative Extension is the informal off-campus educational arm of the University of California. It is a part of the Land-Grant College System, that since 1914, has provided the citizens of California and Kern County with the following programs to improve their quality of living.

4-H Youth Development

Citrus, Subtropical Horticulture, Pistachios

Cotton, Small Grains, Corn & Silage

Deciduous Tree Fruits and Nuts

Entomology and Pest Management

Environmental Horticulture

Irrigation Management & Agronomy

Nutrition, Family and Consumer Science

Range/Natural Resources, Livestock

Vegetable Crops/Plant Pathology

Viticulture and Small Fruits

Calendar

Event Name	Date
Field Day Planning Meeting	2/7/2012
New Leader Orientation	2/7/2012
UCCE - 4-H Office CLOSED	2/13/2012
LAST DAY to transfer or add projects for 2012 KC Fair!	2/15/2012
Horse Leader's Meeting	2/27/2012

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Contact Information

Kern County
Cooperative Extension Kern County
1031 South Mount Vernon Avenue
Bakersfield, CA 93307
Phone: (661) 868-6200
Fax: (661) 868-6208

Interim Director:
John Borba